Improvement in machinery for clearing snow and ice from railroad-tracks



s STREETER. I Car-Track Clearer.

Patented Oct. 30, I847.

AM. PHOTO-LITHD.C0.N.Y. (OSBORNES PRO CESS.)

UNITED S A S PATENT 7 OFFICE.

SAMUEL STREETER, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT-IN MACHINEI iY FOR CLEARING snow AND ICE l- 'ROMRAILROAD-TRACKS.

Specification forming part ofLetters Patentv No. 5,347, dated October30, 184.7. I i

To all whom it may concern? Be it known that I, SAMUEL STREETER, ofDetroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan,- have invented anImprovement in Machinery for Clearing Obstructions from Railway-Tracks,of which the following is a specification. i

For clearing Obstructions the machinery consists of seven distinctparts,each being used with or independent of all the others.-

Figure 1 in the drawings representsa longitudinal section of alocomotive-frame With a double conical surface and flanges attached forremoving obstructions from the track, and also a Wire broom A forremoving sleet from the same track. Fig. 2 represents a section of-saidlocomotive-frame and a side view of the whole machine attached to it forclearing obstructions. Fig. 3 is a front view ofthe double conicalsurface represented in Fig. 1, together with its flanges and'the bracesof the flanges. Fig. 4 is a front .view of the snow-excavator of- Fig.2, showing the position of the flanges in the two endless'chain's. Fig.5 is a View of a single bucket of the above, and shows the flange, thebrace, and the plate to which they are attached. Fig. let is across-section of the frame which supports the snow-excavator. Fig. 10 isa crosssection of the double cylindrical conical surface R, representedin Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 11 is the form of the plate of which this surfaceis inade'by bending it so that the line a b shall be riveted to (Z c.Fig. 12 shows the form of a flange for the above surface and is normalto it, the point a of the flange being in the circle a-ed of Fig. 11 andthe point f of Fig. 12 being in the circle bfc of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 showsthe 7 iron wheel to the circumference of which the largest circles orbases of the conical surfaces (in Fig. 10) are riveted, (through. I) c,Fig. 17.) Fig. 15 shows'thewarp and selvage of the wire for forming thewire brooms. Fig. 16 is a section of the broom inFig. 1, and shows thescrew passing'through it, the nut c, which fastens it, and the platewhich confines it. Fig. 7 is a View of the interior of the doublespringrotary scraper. Fig. 6 isaview of the same scraper with the end coveredby an iron plate, and is used to cut ice from the track. Fig. 9 is aninterior view of a burr for removing ice from the track. Fig. 8 is aview of heads and the hub of the wheel to which the bases are fastenedashaftpasses, terminated at each end by a crank. The wheel, Fig. 13, towhich the bases of the conical surfaces are fastened must have its rinishaped thus so that the conical surfaces may fit on and be riveted toit. On each conical surface there are four flanges be, 9 d, h c, a, Fig.],b e, g d',' h

c, a, Fig. 2, which are normal to thesurface,

and eachflange of the one surface (b e and h c, Fig. 3) meets a flangeof the othersurface (b m and c is, Fig. 3) in the plane of the base ofthe two cones at b and 0, respectively, Fig.3. These flanges, thoughperpendicular to the surfaces, are not in the planeof the shaft, but

make an angle with it. To determine this angle I will fix twoconsecutive flanges on one surface. Divide the'circles of the base andvertex each into four equal parts, so that a point of the'vertex and inthe base, as'y, Fig. 3, is in the same plane through the shaft. To apoint in the Vertex, as 00, Fig. 3,1 fix one end of the flange, and tothatpoint, (y, Fig, 3,) in the base which is opposite the next point tothe rear (a, Fig. ,3) in the vertex I fasten the other end of theflange.The flange my, Fig. 3, thus runs diagonally across the surface and isnormal to.it. vIn the vertex at a, Fig. 3, and opposite-to the pointy,'Fig. 3, where this flange terminates in the base,- I fix one end ofanother flange, the other end being carried diagonally to the next pointof division in the base at. b, and thus rivet it; Two consecutiveflanges of one surface are now fixed, 00 y and ac b, Fig. 3, and theother are fixed in the same way, each flangeon the surface of the otherfrust-um meeting a flange of this surface at the, base of the cone, as d11 meeting a;- y, Fig. 3, and thus forming a continuous flange, bearingin mind that the points 61 and 00, Fig. 3, on the twovertexes wherethiscontinuous flange terminates are in the same plane through theshaft.

The drum a b c (1, Figs. 3 and 10,,or conical surface should be made ofheater or thin boiler iron, and the flanges, as a e b and b m 2', Fig.3, of stiff boiler-iron. The under side ofthe flanges are braced withpieces of stiff boiler-iron, as a s r u and r 2f .2 n, Fig. 3, and thesebracesare riveted to the flanges and to the surface of the drum.

To brace the flange a e b, Fig. '-3, rivet a piece of boiler-iron arounda line a u b, Fig. 3, which starts from one end of the flange, and bycurving. extends to the other, or to the plane of the base I) c, Fig. 3,of the conical surfaces. This line runs near and along the outer edge ofthe flange, as at a u b, Fig. 3, then curves to near the under edge, andthence along to the base of the cones.

The drum (1 cf g, Fig. 10, is made one foot longer than the width,between the rails, so that each endwill project six inches beyond therails. To a locomotive-frame two feet high make the diameter of the drumthree feet and the diameter at the ends eighteen inches. At the point h0, Figs. 10 and 3, where the diameter is greatest, the flange r b,Fig.3,

is six inches in width, and at the ends of the dr-um a m and e d, Fig.3, the flange, as 2 m anda e, is two feet, with the corners slightlyrounded. The flanges are riveted to the drum, and the braces are rivetedto the flanges and drum. q I Tlo complete the excavation of the snowfrom a deep cut, I place a vertical frame (shown in Fig. 14) uponthefront of the locomotive-frame and immediately behind the conicalsurfaces. This frame, Fig. 14, is com posed of two'uprights a b and c d,Fig. 14, and a,- F ig. 2, made of iron, which are supported on each sideby an arm, one of which isfseen at b, Fig. 2, projectingdiagonallyupward and forward from the locomotive frame, through the ends of whicha pin (seen ate e, Figs 14 and 2) in the frame on each side passes.There is also an arm, one of which is seen, f, Fig. 2, projectingvertically down ward on each side of the locomotive-frame,

and in each of these arms is a hole, through which a shaft terminated ateach end by a crank passes. The upper end of this vertical ers 1 and 2,Fig. 14, on it, each at a distance.

from the end of the shaft equal toone-fourth the length of the shaft.Two. horizontal braces or bars D andE, Fig. 14,'exte-nd be-. tween thesides a b' and 0 (Z, Fig. 14, of thevertical frame at equal distancesabove and below, the shaft 0, Fig. 14., which has the'friction-rollers,and half-way between said rollers and the shafts A and B, Fig. 14, atthe.

top and bottom of the frame. Now make the buckets, which connectedtogether form an endless chain. Upon the vertical frame, Fig. 14, thereare two of these endless chains, as

seen at Fig. 4, and which in revolving remove the snow by lifting itfrom the track and throw it off on each side. They are made ofboileriron. To construct'one bucket out a piece of boiler-iron a b a d,Fig. 5, so that it is rectane gular. Each angle or corner of this ironis cut out, as at a b c d, Fig. 5, and a pieceof iron is riveted acrossthe short sides of this rectilin-' of boiler-iron a b c d, Fig. 5, justdescribed.

The second piece of boiler-iron 'de 1) Fig. 5,

is perpendicular to the first piece and crosses it in its longestdiagonal. The flangesare braced on the under side with boiler-iron. Thebrace 61 2' b k, Fig. 5,is so cut and riveted that the widest part of itat i 70, Fig. 5, will cover to aboutthe middle of the flange, and iscurved gradually to a point where the bucket and flange'intersect at theends at b and d,'Fig. 5. The curve of the other edge of the brace 01 kb, Fig. 5, is the same, and is riveted to the bucket a b c d, Fig. 5.Buckets made in this way are fastened together by a square link passingthrough the eye in each corner and the same link passing through an "eyein theadj oining corners of the next bucket.

An endless chain is thus formed, and, the link being large enough to fiton the cog or pin of .the end and middle wheel on the upper A, Fig. '14,and lower B, Fig. 14, shafts, it is seen that -;when power is applied tothe cranks of the lower shaft (one of which is seen at 00, Fig.

12, and at, Fig. 4) the buckets will receive their gproper motion. Uponthe same frame, Fig. 14, a second endless chain is placedgvhich isconstructed in the same manner; but. the

flanges. of the second chain of buckets' inter.- sect the flanges of thefirst chain at the top of each bucket and in the center of the frame, asseen in Fig. 4, so that the outer edges of the flanges of both chainsare at. the lowest point of the buckets and the inner edges at thehighest point, and the lowest points are in the same horizontal...plane.The second thrownor slides off atthe sides. The flange at the centralpart of the frame (in the line a d, Fig. 4) is slightly curved upward,and

\ cally downward.

this curve gradually diminishes toward .the outer edge, where itdisappears, (seen in Fig.

2,) and the object of this is to give it a hold.

upon the snow to raise it up. I

To'remove sleet from the tracks, an elastic,

wire broom A, Figs. 1 and 2, is used,"and.it is fastened on the forwardend of the locomotive frame and directly in front of the forward wheelsand'beh'ind the endless chain. This broom is seen in its position at A,Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 16 is a sectionthrough its length. The warp,Fig. 15, of; this broom is made of annealed iron Wire of No.14, and thefilling is made of elastic wire of equal proportions from No. 7 to No.16. The center of the web is made without warp, as Fig. 15, ten threadson each side forming a selvage. being two feet wide, as from a to a,Fig. 15, it is cutin two lengthwise the web from b to b, Fig. 15, sothat the filling would form. a fringe if made of yarn. The elastic wire11] ustbe thor oughly annealed when the selvage is formed, care beingtaken notto anneal that part which forms the center of the web. Theselvage is wound around an iron screw onwhich is a conical head taperingtoward the screw and the screw end projectingthrough-and beyond theselvage, the whole seen at Fig.16. An iron band confines the upper orwoven part of the broom, as A, Fig. 1'. This band in the inside is ofless diameter at the top than the bottom and it is forced over theselvage end of the broom by passing the end of the. screw on which 2 thebroom is wound through it and through a hole in an iron plate, as ab,Fig. 16, cover-' ing it, and putting a nut c, Fig. 16, upon the end ofthe screw and turning the'nut. There is a piece of stiff spring-steel .ry 2,.Fig. 1, and w y 2, Fig. 2, fastened to the front of the.locomotive-frame and which projects about one foot horizontally, a: 1Fig. 1, and w y, Fig. 2, beyond it, where it curves and projectsdownward, y z, Fig. 1, and y z, Fig. 2, and then curves and projectsinward, z c, Fig. 1, and z '0', Fig. 2, toward .the'wheel. The length ofthe downward part y z, Fig. 1, and y 2, Fig. 2, is determined by theheight of the locomotive-frame, and as the broom is fastened to the part2 r, Fig. 1, or z c, Fig.

2, which projects inward toward the wheel, bya nut 0 0, Fig. 1, 0 0,Fig. 2, onth e screw which passes through it, the length of the twotogether must be such thatthe broom will touch the track and brush oifthe sleet. When the frontof the broom becomes worn, it may be unscrewedand the front part turned to the rear.

A bar 00 m, Fig. 1, and co m, Fig. 2, of spring-steel, forms thescraper, is placed directly in front of the locomotive-wheels, and isimmediately in rear of the broom. It is fastened at one end as, Fig. 1,and 00, Fig. 2, to the locomotive-frame, and projects verti- There isasmall iron plate s, Fig. 1, 8, Fig.2, on the front end of thelocomotive-frame, over which this steel plate The, web

passes, and which projects'it forwardof the.

frame, so as to allowit. to act upon aspiral;

spring between sand t, Fig. 1, and sit", Fig. 2 .in rear of it, and oneend of which springis.

partially countersunk into the end of ,the" frame, so that whenthereisagreat pressure spiral spring between the broom-holder and thefront of the 'locomotive-frame, .as be tween t and n, Fig. 1, and t n,Fig.2, and I against the broom-holder presseswhen meet-1' 1 The broomjust' ing with resistance in front. described has only aforward motionwith the locomotive. Av broom of same materials, but.

havin g a rotary motion and rapid revolutions; 7 so as easily to cuticefrom a track,.is made v by placing four of them on each end of ashaft and over-each rail and infront of the driving;

wheel. Such a one is seen at 4 5 67 of Fig;

2in front ofthe'driving-wheeh Theyt l) are J placed in the same circleon theshaft and at equal distances .from each. which these wires arewound has a countersink on its head, 'so as to be screwed into the":shaft by means of a screw-driver, and the up shaft the power is applied,and in thiscase, i as in that for removing.obstructions, as well o asfor the snow-excavator, the motion must be? V the reverse of that of thelocomotive-wheels.

Anyfice under theisnow or between banks of thesame is removed from atrack by a'doublespring rotary scraper, as seen in Figs. tand'i and A B,Fig. 2, which is made of a cylindrical cast-iron hub with eight pieces.cut out of. its

circumference, as between 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .8, Fig. 7,

equally distant from each, and in the shape'of I a V, the'V extendingdo'wntoward the axle jtree one-half the radius of the hub. Eightv Jscrapers 0 p q r s t u 1;, Figs. 6-a'nd 7, made of sprin -steel, areinserted into this hubyone into each, V, and extendingfbelow the Vandtoward the axle-tree three-eighths of the 'distance from the axle-treeto the V. A spiral" cylindrical spring, as a b c d, Figs. 6 and 7,passes around this hub and between the scrapers, and the wire passeseach scraper by aj notch (see Fig. 7 in the edge of the scraperLj Thewire is made of steel, and'spring-tem:

pered after it has been formed into a spiral and bent around thecylindrical hub. The

hub has a flange ab 0 d, Fig. 6,projecti'ng i I over one-half thecylindrical spiral spring on one side. A circular iron plate n, Fig. 6,is screwed ontothe outer side of the hub and of a diameter sufficienttocover the same portion of the spiral spring as is covered by the flangeof the hub. A scraper of this kind is fitted onto each end of a shaftand the motion given it must be in a direction contrary to that of thedriving-wheel. Thick ice may also be removed by burr, Fig.3.. 8

The screw on;

- or depressed by a lever, as seen at Ct" 19 c and 9, and C, Fig. 2, orit may be used to start an engine over an icy track. It is made ofcast-iron a b c d, Fig. 9, with countersinks in it to receive sixteencold-chisels. These countersinks are equally distant from each other andare seven-eighths the thickness of the hub deep. At the distance fromthe center of the hub equal to onehalf its radius is a countersunkcircle e e e c, Fig. 9, and the cold-chisels are notched to correspondwith it. An iron ring is countersunk into this circle and serves toprevent the chisels from flying out. A cast-iron plate 7 n, Fig. 8, isscrewed upon the end of this hub, and its diameter is the same as thatof the hub. A wheel or burr of this kind is placed on each end of ashaft and is raised Fig. 2, at the will of the engineer. To cut awayordinary or thin ice, it is merely depressed, so that it will by contactwith the track revolve freely; but to start a locomotive upon an icytrack it must be pressed downward and the engine applied to it. Theinner part of the edge of the cold-chisel is slightly longer than theouter edge and tapers gradually toward it.

I have first described the construction of a machine a b e dg ch, Fig.l, and h e m 70, Fig. 3, for clearing obstructions from rail-roadtracks, and would further say that the ends of the drum are circularcast-iron plates (0, b, Fig. 17, is a section through the shaft) with aflange on the outside of the rim, as 0d, Fig.

, 17, of each, wide enough to rivet, as 1 2, Fig.

17, the drum to them. The ends are fitted and riveted on the outside tothe drum, as 1 2, Fig. 17. The shaftis fastened to the wheel, Fig. 13,which supports the center of the drum, and to each end of the drum byleav-' ing a groove in the hub of the wheel and also in the shaft, as ata, Fig. 13, so as to admit a square key and placing the key into thisgroove, and the same where the shaft passes the ends of the drum. At thelatter place. there is a flange equal in width to the flange on the rimof the circular plate to give this point more strength.

at A, Figs. 1 and 2, which passes over the track, clearing it for theburden-wheels. Immediately in rear of the burden-wheels are burr-wheelsC, Fig. 2, to cut thick ice, which is often formed where the trackpasses through a gorge or deep cut. These wheels are raised or depressedby a lever, which may be acted on by steam and at the will of theengineer. This lever is seen by the dotted lines a b" 0". Immediatelyfollowing this is a double-spring rotary scraper A Fig. 2, also acted onby a lever, as seen in the-dotted lines cl" ef, Fig. 2. Any ice formedunder the snow or between banks 'of the same can be removedby this, andthe steam, if necessary, be made to act on the lever. Immedi'atelyinrear of this and directly in front'of the driving-wheels is placed arotary wire broom, at 4 5 6 7, Fig. 2,'also acted on by a lever g" h"i", Fig. 2, in a similar'manner, and it is used to clear the track ofice or sleet andto brush off the ice that may have been cut, thrown, orleft on by the preceding cutters.

That which I claim asmy invention, and

desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is i For themode herein described of constructing and combining a series ofmachinery for clearing obstructions from railroad-tracks,

the whole being constructed,-combined,-and' operating substantially asis herein fully set forth.

SAMUEL STREETER.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. (J. THOMAS, T. O. DONN.

